Find out how popular the last name Cage is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cage.

Cage, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cage surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cage in America

Cage is the 6345th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cage surname appeared 5,372 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Cage.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cage to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cage

The surname Cage has its roots in England, originating in the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "cage," which means a small hut or dwelling. This points to the name initially being used as a descriptive term for someone who lived in a small, cage-like dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cage surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1195, where a Robert de la Cage is mentioned. This suggests the name was already established in England by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Cage, Cagge, and Kage, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 include references to individuals with the surname Cage in counties like Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

During the 14th century, the Cage surname was further documented in historical records. The Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 list a Johannes Cagge, while the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1381 mention a William Cage.

Notable individuals with the Cage surname throughout history include John Cage (1912-1992), an influential American composer known for his experimental and avant-garde works. Another is Henry Clinton Cage (1859-1937), an American civil engineer who played a key role in the construction of the Panama Canal.

In the literary world, there was Henry Cage (1816-1892), an English writer and journalist who wrote extensively on the history of Hertfordshire. Historically, the Cage surname was also associated with places like Cage Green in Kent, which derived its name from the Old English word "caega," meaning enclosure or cage.

Other individuals of note include Sir Thomas Cage (1786-1849), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Harriet Cage (1856-1926), an American suffragist and activist who campaigned for women's right to vote.

While the Cage surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals who migrated or were part of the British diaspora.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cage

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cage.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cage was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cage has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cage was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cage, please contact us.

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